With three defenders near him, Pierce made a fallaway, 21-foot jumper that went in off the backboard at the buzzer to lift the Wizards over the Atlanta Hawks 103-101 on Saturday night, despite playing without John Wall and after letting a 21-point lead evaporate.

As he left the court after giving the Wizards a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, Pierce was asked on TV whether he called “Bank!” on the winner.

“I called, `Game!’” Pierce declared.

He had more fun at his news conference.

“Usually,” Pierce said, “I like to save those type of shots for later rounds.”

Told that Dennis Schroder, one of the Hawks who tried in vain to disrupt the game-winner, called it “a lucky shot,” Pierce chuckled. Then, referring to his lengthy career, Pierce retorted: “Well, I guess Schroder is going to say that, because he’s a little young. … He hasn’t been able to see it over the last 17 years.”